Rx8 seat retrofit.
 

Been looking for a way to finangle more headroom so my ape ass can fit with a helmet for awhile now.

Picked up rx8 recaro cushions off craigslist today.

[IMG]http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63...psa50c122c.jpg[/IMG]

Apparently the cushions are a direct bolt on to the plain rx8 seats, which are abundant and cheap.

Going to pick up an rx8 frame hack off whats unnecessary and mount to a frz planted base.

Havent looked at the frz airbags yet but if i'm lucky those will be able to be mounted into the bolster. Had done airbag swap with my 05 forester when mounting 08+ sti seats.


More to come.

i'm tall too and will eventually need more headroom. i wouldn't mind the stock seats being a little lower to fit the helmet

nice find

sick cant wait to see this!

why not buy race seats wouldnt it be easier

The seat pan is 4 bolts, the seat back is 4 bolts. Add in another 4 to mount to a base.

"race" seats have bolts too. Usually atleast 12 as well if factoring sliders.

the amount of grinding shouldn't be extreme.

may find out today if i make it to a junkyard.

Base arrived to junkyard today. Picked up a bit ago.

The seat pan looks to sit about 1/2" below the rails.

Downside, the standard rx8 cushions seem pretty plush compared to the recaros. So pending final instal the cheap route (non recaro cushion) may not work for headroom without extra tinkering.

Other than that the base looks like removing the extra crap should be easy. Though I'm probably going to invest in a harbor freight welder. Or just pick up a planted base and bolt the rails to that. Looks like a pretty good chance the seat pan will fit inside of the open space of the planted base.

There looks to be a minor height adjust (seat pan raises and drops).

And there will probably be no weight saving, which was expected.

Have other things to do today and only one strip of 1/4" iron.

But it's atleast here.


of course in the meantime damotorsports has updated the lowerbracket they're working on. so if that eventually comes out around their price point it will be the way to go no question.

$ wise i'm still at a profit considering the resale of the recaro cushions.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2832/9...379a4ab2_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7389/9...6319a822_c.jpg

How "tall" are all of you tall people?

I'm only about 6'3" ish but long in the torso.

Can drive a solstice with head over the windshield.

I'm 6'3" only issue I have is the daftest pushes my head a bit to far forward for comfort with a helmet on. I simply turn the head rests around.

I have to slouch with a helmet, this is after stretching the seat springs. With no helmet i'm about a finger from the roof.

You're probably longer in the legs than I am.

In case some folks didn't know, the 86 seats were meant to have the headrests turned around if you wear a helmet.

Ha, that is very possible, I wear 31-32w 34L in pants lol so I do have long leggs.

In for pics of final install. The only thigs I wih out stock seats had was the slots to run a harness through.

Interdasting... can't wait to see the outcome!

Not bolted yet, my drill bit stash is basically spent. The sagging left bolster is because the airbag is removed.

Impressions so far.

Massive pain in the ass shaving the rails

headroom gain exists, but is less than I was hoping for. There definitely would be probably no headroom gain with the standard rx8 cloth cushions. They are far less dished than the recaro base.

spacing on the frs mounting points does not line up with rx8 rails. so extra material will be necessary, right now i'm torn between the pictured iron or picking up a planted base. Problem being the rx8 rails are spaced wider than the frs rails, looking at the holes on the planted base pictures it may not work without drilling, and that may be a bit close to the edge of the material.

Frs mounting hole width 15.75" rear (center to center)

Rx8 rail hole width roughly 17"


about $250 in at this point.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3692/9...62e4faca_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7443/9...7263abc8_c.jpg

i lnow ive asked this on another post but what if you use frs base and sloders, would that be easier?

entirely different seat design, but, where theres a will (time and money) theres a way,

but at this point the only thing left to do is drill and bolt, or buy a base

Installed pics?

Planted base wasn't available locally. Got some good drill bits and got it mounted to the iron.

Rear right corner uses the factory seat bolt through the rx8 slider and iron. the other 3 corners use grade 8 bolts, washers, lock washer.

Seatbelt bolted over perfectly. Airbag resistor in place. Going to give this a couple days to see how it is then pull, trim the front of the rails, paint and maybe rig the frs airbag into the bolster pocket.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2821/9...18d51b0a_z.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3693/9...14fa1a6c_c.jpg

Harness slots fit me as well as a sportster cs ( <1" below shoulders) Headroom improved from stock with stretched springs. Bolsters are more snug than the sportster but I am 6'3" 250, snug happens.

Swapped in side airbag.

Majority of time was spent pulling the frs bag.

Both use 2 bolts facing inward. Lined up one hole drilled one for other.

Foam could use some trimming now to eliminate lump on outside of bolster from length difference. The frs bag is longer.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2858/9...fa1e3794_c.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3715/9...53293b34_z.jpg

Used some leather cleaner, trimmed and painted the iron

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2860/9...67e64e5b_c.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3750/9...edfe59d3_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7355/9...1fd7ba24_c.jpg

LOOKS GREAT

thanks,

this is the plain cloth base for comparison, much less dished, not sure it would work for extra headroom.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7442/9...37db69f5_c.jpg

utekineir, would you please post a few pics of the bottom of the original seat? I am trying to figure out if I can replace the adjustment bracket with a plate or two, to lower the seat 2 inches. I don't mind making it immobile.
Thanks,

no air bag light on ??

There is a pic in here from someone else of the base.

Mine is stored atm

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45559

Thank you for the link. Kinda looks like the part that bolts to the car is removed from that, but I can't be sure.

So do these seat have airbags in them from factory, and you've changed them for the FR-S ones, or they didn't have bags originally (Sorry for the necro)

They're designed for this.